What are some common legal issues business owners should avoid?

On behalf of Dale M. Maas, Attorney at Law posted in Business Law on Friday, May 10, 2019.

Today’s world and Louisiana’s economy lends itself to the opportunity for many to start small businesses, both online and brick and mortar stores. As a small business grows, it is likely to face legal challenges that were not present in the beginning. You can head those off before they begin if you are prepared for them.

According to BusinessDictionary, harassment and discrimination cases are more likely to occur as you hire more employees. The legal ramifications of any type of discrimination or harassment can lead to serious problems for any company. It is important to have a legal consultant and a human resources department that is equipped to handle any of these issues.

Patent and copyright issues are another legal problem that many businesses face. When your company is in the product development phase, it is important that you research copyrights and patents of any of your competitors. This prevents nasty litigation if another company already holds a patent for a product.

Immigration audits may also be an issue for a business. At all times, you should be positive that your employees are legally allowed to work in the United States. You may want to use background checks and do regular sweeps of the staff to determine if anyone is working with falsified documents. If a company is found by the government to be using illegal labor, a surprise immigration audit can be used to cripple that business.

Disgruntled employees are another big legal problem that companies may face. Employees have rights and there are many reasons found for wrongful termination. When a non-performing employee is terminated, it is important that the issues are well-documented. The employee should also sign legal documents when they are terminated to say they understand the reasons they are being fired. If the door is left open after an employee is fired, they may seek legal action against the company.

This information is intended for educational purposes and should not be interpreted as legal advice.

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